Key assembly



March 20, 1956 H, RQCK 2,738,668

KEY ASSEMBLY 7 Filed 001;. 8, 1954.

F76. 3 eza/m/uo eocK INVENTOR United States Patent KEY ASSEMBLY Reginald H. Rock, Alderdale, Wash. Application October 8, 1954, Serial No. 461,141 2 Claims. (Cl. 70-456) This invention relates to an illuminated key assembly.

An object of the invention is to providea key assembly which, upon appropriate manual actuation, moves an associated key into operative position and illuminatesthe key and an area surrounding the key to facilitate the finding of an unlighted keyhole and, the insertion ofthe key therein. Another object of the invention is to provide a key assembly, of the character referred to above,"in which any desired key may be incorporated, which can be conveniently carried in the pocket, and which is easily grasped and operated in the dark.

pear from the following description considered in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the key assembly of the present invention, showing the normal position in solid lines and the operative positionin broken lines.- I Figure 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of FigureI.

Figure 3 is a detail view in perspective of the actuating means of the assembly of the present invention.

exterior-1y of the casing 15 for efiecting the rocking movement of the means 30 in a direction to cause the firstnamed portion to engage the end 21 of the key 20 and effect the movement of the key to its longitudinal position. The means 30 consists of a finger plate 31 and a pair of wings 32 and 32' projecting transversely from the finger plate 31. The actuating means 30 is pivotally connected to a pair of spaced lugs 33, which project outwardly from a side of the casing 15, by means of a pin 34. The pin 34 extends through the wings 32 and 32', adjacent their connections with the plate 31 and has its ends sup ported in the lugs 33. Thus, the wings 32 and 32' extend interiorly of the casing 15 through slots 36, formed in the casing 15 adjacent the lugs 33, while the finger plate 31 is exteriorly of the casing 15. The inner end of the wing 32 abuts against an adjacent portion of the loop 21 of the key 20 and the plate 31, in the normal position, extends angularly outward from the casing 15, as shown in the solid lines in Figure 2, the key 20 being transverse of the casing 15, as shown in the solid lines in Figures 1 and 2, when the actuating means 30 is in the normal position just described. Movement of the actuating means 30 to the positionshown in the broken lines in Figures 1 and 2, however, causes the Wing 32 to bear against 'theloop 21 of the key 20 and shift the key 20 from the solid line positioma's shown in Figures 1 and 2 Other objects and advantages of the invention w ll apto the broken line position as shown in those figures, in which position it extends out of the open end 16 of the casing 15, the Wing 32 acting as a stop to hold the key 20 hits dotted. line position A resilient means is opera tivelyxconnected to the casing 15 and the actuating Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2. a

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 15 designates a casing having an open end 16. The casing 15 is fabricated of metal conductiveof electricityand is preferably made in two longitudinal half sections connected together by appropriate screw means 17. A pair of oppositely disposed slots 18 extend inwardly from the open end 16 of the casing 15 and terminate at points spaced from the other end of the casing 15.

Positioned transversely of the casing 15 is a key 20 having one end 21 within the casing 15, adjacent the open end 16, and being connected to the casing 15 for swinging movement about an axis transverse of the casing from its transverse position to a position extending longitudinally out of the open end 16. Specifically, the end 21, constituting the grip or loop of the key 20, is pivotally connected to the casing 15 by a bolt 22 which extends transversely of the casing 15 adjacent the open end 16. The bolt 22 extends through the hole or opening customarily provided in the loop of a key and its end portions are slidably supported in opposed slots 23 extending longitudinally of the casing 15. The bolt 22 is of the type having male and female components which may be tightened together to bring the heads 24 of the bolt into clamping relation against the sides of the casing 15 to secure the bolt 22 in any selected position of its sliding movement in the slots 23. The key 20 normally extends transversely of the casing 15 with its stem 25 extending outwardly through one of the slots 18, as shown in the solid lines in Figure 1.

An actuating means 30, having a portion within the casing 15 inwardly of and engageable with the end 21 of the key 20, is connected to the casing 15 for rocking movement about an axis which extends in a direction normal to the direction in which the key axis or bolt 22 extends. The means 30 has another portion which is means 30.forbiasing the-actuating means 30 to its angular position. Specifically, a wire spring 37 is looped about the pin 34 and has one end bearing against the exterior surface of the casing 15 and the other end bearing against the inner face of the finger plate 31 so as to urge the actuating means 30 toward .the position shown in the solid linesin Figures land 2. It is to be noted that the key 20 may be swung to the full line positionwhere it projects out of the slot 18 adjacent the wing 32'. In this latter case, the wing 32 willbear against the loop 21 of the key 20 and shiftit to the dotted line position with the wing 32 acting as a stop to hold the key in the dotted line position.

Positioned within the casing 15, is an electric illuminating means operable upon movement of the actuating means 30 in the direction to move the key to its longitudinal position. The illuminating means consists of a bulb 40 mounted in the casing 15, inwardly of the key 20 and the actuating means 30, in a socket 41. The electric bulb 40 is supplied with current from a battery 42 positioned exteriorly of the case 15 from which a flexible cable 43, carrying the leads from the battery 42, extends and enters the end of the casing 15 opposite to the open end 16. One of the leads 44 from the battery 42 is connected to the center contact of the electric bulb 40 and the other lead 46 from the battery 42 extends outwardly through the casing 15 and is connected to a raised contact point 45 positioned upon the free end of the finger plate 31 and projecting toward the casing 15, the point 45 being insulated from the finger plate 31, and making electricalcontact with the adjacent portion of the casing 15 when the actuating means 30 is moved to the dotted line position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The shell of the electric bulb 40 is grounded to the casing 15 and thus when the point 45 is brought into contact with the casing 15 the circuit between the battery 42 and the bulb 40 is completed and the bulb will be illuminated.

In use, the key assembly of the present invention is carried in the users pocket until the door to be unlocked is approached. The casing 15 is'then removed from the pocket and extended toward the door, the flexible cable 43 connecting the'casing and the battery 42 permitting the battery 42 to remain in the users pocket. As the casing 15 is extended toward the door, the user presses inwardly on the finger plate 31 of the. actuating means 30 causing the Wing 32 to press against the loop 21 of the key and rotate the key from itsv transverse position, as shown in the solid lines in Figures 1 and 2, before the loop: 21 abuts the wing 32' and the key 20. has beenmoved to its operative position, asshown; in. the broken lines in Figures 1 and 2, in whichv latter position it is adapted to be inserted into the keyhole. At the same time, when the finger piece 31 is moved inwardly toward the casing 15, the point 45 makes contact with theadjacent portion of the casing 15, completing the circuit through the electric bulb 40 and causing the bulb tobe illuminated. The light from the bulb 49 shines out of the open end 16.0f the casing 15 and illuminates the key 20 and an area surrounding the key so that as the key is brought into proximity to the door the keyhole in the door will be illuminated and the user of the device will be able to see to insert the key into the keyhole although the keyhole may otherwise be completely unlighted. As soon as the key has been used and removed from the lock, the casing is returned to the pocket. Release of the pressure of the users hand from the finger piece 31 permits the spring 37 to bias the actuating, means. toward its normal position in which the point 45 is out of contact with the casing 15 and thus the. light is extinguished as soon as the pressure upon the finger piece 31 is released.

A different key may be inserted into the casing 15 at any time by removing the bolt. 22 from the casing 15 and making the change of keys. When the. bolt 22 is reinserted into the casing 15, it may be adjusted longitudinally thereof in the slots 23 to position it appropriately with respect to the size of the. loop 21 of the key pivoted thereon.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the key assembly of the present invention. atiords an. eflicient and self-contained means. for enabling auser to find and insert a key into an unlighted keyhole. The. assembly may be conveniently carried in the users pocket and can be. easily grasped and operated in the dark, the actuating means being operable by the normal gripping pressure of the users hand upon the casing as he takes ahold. of it for the purpose of inserting the key into the lock.

What is claimed is:

1. A key assembly comprising a casing having an open end, a key positioned transversely of said casing and having one end within said casing adjacent the open end there of and connected to said casing for swinging movement about an axis transverse of said casing from its transverse position to a position extending longitudinally out of the open end of said casing, and an actuating means having a portion within said casing and inwardly of and engageable with said one end of said key and connected to said casing for rocking movement about an axis which extends in a direction normal to the direction in which the key axis extends, said means having another portion exteriorly of said casing for efiecting the rocking movement of said actuating means in a direction to cause said firstnamed portion to engage said one end of said key and effect the movement of the key to its longitudinal position.

2. A key assembly comprising a casing. havingv an open end, a key positioned transversely of said casing and having one end within said casing adjacent the open end thereof and connected to said casing for swinging, movement about an axis transverse of said casing from its transverse position to a position extending longitudinally out of. the open end of said casing, an actuating means having a portion within said casing and inwardly of and engageable with said one end of said key and connected to said casing for rocking movement about an axis which. extends in a direction normal to the direction in which the key axis extends, said means having another portion exteriorly of said casing for effecting the rocking movement of said actuating means in a direction to cause said first-named portion to engage said one end of said key and. effect the movement of the key to its longitudinal position, and resilient means operatively connected to said casing and said actuating means for biasing said actuating means in the opposite direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,393,373 Hendrix Jan. 22, 1946 2,481,295 Corigliano Sept. 6, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 530,249 Great Britain Dec. 9, 1940 

